Fair Trade

For disempowered rural communities – often indigenous – access to Fair Trade markets can make the difference between destitution and self-sufficiency, between misery and decent livelihoods. The agricultural output in such communities is often organic by default; much of it has the potential to appeal to environmentally and socially conscious retailers and consumers. But the produce is of little use if none of it reaches external markets. IDLO is working to open up fair trade opportunities for those who need them most.

In order to ease the isolation experienced by some of Ecuador’s indigenous communities, IDLO has designed a legal model for accessing fair trade markets. The pilot phase of the initiative took place in two remote Quechua-speaking mountain settlements, Rumicorral and Ambrosio Lasso. Both communities had extremely low social indicators, with virtually no access to external markets for what was otherwise naturally organic and pesticide-free farming produce.